JHU to protest against P-TOMS

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 August 2005, 04:58 GMT]"We have decided to hold island-wide protests against the Post-Tsunami Operations Structure (P-TOMS), we demand holding of elections for Sri Lanka's presidency in 2005, and want immediate suspension of all talks with International community regarding P-TOMS," said Omalpe Sobitha Thera, parliamentarian from the extremist Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) , an all monks party, to media persons Wednesday.

"The Norwegian Foreign Minister is coming to Sri Lanka Thursday to discuss matters related to P-TOMS again. We condemn this initiative against the decision of Sri Lanka's Supreme Court," said Sobitha Thera.

"Sri Lanka needs a government that is able to defeat separatism and not one that nourishes it.

"Donor countries and international lending agencies have demanded implementation of P-TOMS to distribute billions of dollars in aid. This proposed deal with the LTTE will be a stepping-stone for a separate state. We vow to defeat Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunge's moves to implement P-TOMS which has been widely endorsed by the international donor community," Sobitha Thera added.

Norwegian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Vidar Helgesen is expected to arrive in Colombo Thursday on a four day visit and will have meetings with Sri Lanka's President Kumaratunge and with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).